Broncos minicamp report: Melvin Gordon returns; front seven shines

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Who needs OTAs?

Running back Melvin Gordon III doesn’t feel he does.

As expected, Gordon returned for mandatory minicamp, which began on a broiling Monday morning at UCHealth Training Center. As is his career pattern, he’s on hand for the days that are mandatory and he passes on the ones that aren’t.

Until minicamp, the only time in the offseason he was at Broncos headquarters was when he signed his one-year contract and picked up his iPad playbook.

“When I re-signed, I came back and got my iPad,” Gordon said. “I spent like three hours going over the playbook then. I think Coach [Nathaniel] Hackett did a good job of explaining the plays, play by play, what each guy has. It’s kind of hard when you’re trying to self-teach yourself. You miss out on some small details that I was trying to pick up today actually being out there.”

He missed them — and when he sat on the market, unsigned until April 30, he missed being a part of the team.

“It’s just a great opportunity to be a part of any team, man,” Gordon said. “You can’t take that for granted. Being in a position where I was just, like, waiting, and I was just like, ‘Dang, it’s different.'”

But still …

“I don’t go to OTAs,” Gordon said.

Of the time waiting to sign his contract, Gordon said, “I wasn’t really pressed. But knowing that guys are doing OTA work and you’re not really a part of the team yet was kind of different.”

After he re-signed, he largely kept his physical distance until last week, when he returned to the Denver area. Gordon took part in a charity batting-practice event with Broncos teammates at Coors Field on June 14.

“I feel good, man. I was here all last week, doing some things with Russ (Russell Wilson) and kind of bonding with the guys a little bit,” Gordon said. “But it felt good to be back out here. It’s been a while since I played some football and made some cuts like that.”

Monday, he looked fluid. But he isn’t going to have a prominent role handed to him. Josh Johnson and Brett Rypien handed Gordon the football during team-period work — not Wilson, who Gordon has known since their paths crossed as University of Wisconsin teammates in 2011.

Gordon’s red-zone abilities are proven over the previous seven seasons, and even with and against reserves, he showed them during the low-to-non-contact work Monday, darting through defenders for a touchdown during a team red-zone period.

But now he must learn a new offense with an old friend at quarterback.

Having Wilson helps. Being with the team he’s known for the last two seasons helps, too.

“I’m not really one of the guys that likes to start over,” Gordon said. “I really don’t like change too much with coming into a new locker room, having to build relationships, finding out who your clique is and finding out who works with you and what you’re able to say until guys get comfortable.”

Now, it’s up to him to show once again that he’s worthy of a key role sharing the running-back load.

“I don’t care how old people think I’m getting. I feel good,” Gordon said. “I’ve been sharing the ball since I’ve gotten in the league with running backs, so this is nothing new. I’ve been battling for a while.”

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FRONT SEVEN SEIZES THE DAY

When pressure didn’t get home Monday, deflections came into play, as D.J. Jones, Bradley Chubb, Mike Purcell each got a hand on one of Wilson’s passes. One of them resulted in a near-interception by Alex Singleton. Jones also had a pair of plays that would have been successful run stuffs in game conditions, and generated multiple pressures on Wilson.

The defense’s work hasn’t been a surprise, but its proficiency most days is notable. Jones’ work stands out, because he looks to be an every-down threat because of his ability to generate an interior pass rush, which nicely complements Chubb’s work on the edge.

“We’re going against a great defense every day,” Wilson said. “That’s the challenge we want every day—to go against the best. Our defense is the best of the best, and we’re getting better every day.

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PLAY OF THE DAY:

Pulling out the binoculars and watching Wilson in practice affords one the chance to watch how he manipulates the defense. A turn of his head and a look of his eyes is enough to create a split-second of hesitation from a linebacker or safety. The result is a break by a receiving target which creates separation.

What would have been the longest gain of the day in game conditions happened this way Monday. A turn of Wilson’s head allowed tight end Albert Okwuegbuman to gain separation, and Wilson found him 20 yards downfield in the right seam, well ahead of the defense. With Okwuegbunam’s speed, the play would have likely covered at least 40 yards in game conditions.

Later, Okwuegbunam got a touchdown in a red-zone drill. On Wilson’s final pass of the day, he turned, threw across his body and located a wide-open Okwuegbunam in the back of the end zone.

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NOTES:

• The competition continues at the guard spots, with Quinn Meinerz, Netane Muti and Dalton Risner splitting the guard repetitions. Meinerz works at right guard, where he started last year. Risner mans left guard, his primary spot for his three NFL seasons to date. Muti swings between both. Media asked Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett about Muti and Risner, and he offered effusive praise. He described Muti as a “big surprise” and Risner as an “absolute unbelievable surprise.”</liL
• The Broncos had five players in for tryouts Monday: running back Max Borghi, long snapper Daniel Cantrell, kicker Elliott Fry, tight end Garrett Walton and cornerback Mykael Wright. Borghi provided some local flavor; the star at Pomona H.S. spent six days with the Indianapolis Colts last month as an undrafted free agent out of Washington State before being waived. He had a touchdown run during a red-zone period.
• Fry worked during a placekicking period, but struggled, missing three of his eight attempts, although he rallied after a slow start to hit four of his last five.
• Fourth-round rookie Damarri Mathis broke up a pair of passes, including well-timed contact on Tyrie Cleveland to prevent a touchdown on the last play of the day. Unfortunately, Mathis’ contact and the ensuing tumble resulted in an injury for Cleveland.
• Rookie edge rusher Nik Bonitto and second-year edge Aaron Patrick had multiple pressures during the practice. Patrick also broke up a Rypien pass at the line of scrimmage, and had a pressure on Josh Johnson after he didn’t bite on a play fake. Both also received a smattering of reps with the No. 1 defense against Wilson.
• The offense was whistled for back-to-back false starts midway through practice, with the NFL official on hand pointing at left tackle Garett Bolles for the infractions.
• Safety J.R. Reed made a nice play against Eric Saubert in the open field, diagnosing a pass to the tight end in the left flat and reading it perfectly for what would have been a tackle for no gain under game conditions.
• CB Michael Ojemudia continued to see extensive work while Ronald Darby is limited to individual periods. Ojemudia broke up a Wilson attempt to WR Tim Patrick in a red-zone period late in practice. “He comes out ready to work each day. He pays attention in meetings, asks questions and goes out there and makes plays every day,” Darby said of Ojemudia.

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PARTICIPATION/INJURY REPORT

• WR Tyrie Cleveland suffered an apparent leg injury on the final play of practice. The injury happened after Cleveland ran a route to the back left corner of the end zone to grab an attempt from backup QB Josh Johnson. Cleveland stretched out to grab the pass, but just as the football arrived, so did Mathis. He made contact with Cleveland, forcing the incompletion. Cleveland left the field on a cart. Team medical personnel helped him into the locker room. But the subsequent evaluation was positive. He tweeted, “I’m okay everyone! MRI came back good 🙏🏽
  I appreciate y’all 🧡”
• ILB Josey Jewell was limited to individual work Monday. Alex Singleton lined up alongside Jonas Griffith in place of Jewell.
• OL Graham Glasgow continues to work his way back into form. He saw more work at center during team periods Monday, snapping the football to Rypien.
• WR Jerry Jeudy remained sidelined with a groin injury, although he was on hand for the practice, reading his play sheet and taking mental repetitions.

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WEATHER REPORT:

The pleasant conditions of the last three week-opening practices gave way to a heat wave. Temperatures rose from 88°F to 90°F during the two-hour practice, and hit 93°F by the time Gordon concluded the day’s work with a post-practice press conference.

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WHAT’S NEXT:

The second day of mandatory minicamp takes place Tuesday. Practice begins at 11 a.m. It is open to media, but closed to the public. One final practice before the offseason break is set for Wednesday.

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